Southampton loanee Jan Bednarek admits he would have been ‘super happy’ to join West Ham United but felt Premier League rivals Aston Villa ‘wanted me more’, speaking to Polish publication Meczyki.
With the Qatar World Cup looming on the horizon, this was not a decision Bednarek could afford to take lightly. West Ham or Aston Villa?
Which club would give him the better chance of securing regular first-team football, in the build up to one of the most defining tournaments in the centre-back’s football career?
“I remember that I fell asleep at midnight and got a message from Tomek Magdziarz (Bednarek’s agent); ‘Everything is agreed with West Ham. You go there tomorrow at 10am’,” the 26-year-old recalls.
“I got up at 8:30am and got the message; ‘We have to wait a while. They are waiting, negotiating with Southampton’. At 10am, no information. I call the president of Southampton and he said; ‘Listen, we accepted both offers. Aston Villa and West Ham. It’s up to you where you go.’”
Jan Bednarek had to choose between Aston Villa or West Ham United
Bednarek admits that he would have been ‘super happy’ at either club. But, despite holding belated talks with West Ham boss David Moyes, it was Aston Villa who went above and beyond, convincing Bednarek to join on loan during the final throngs of a dramatic deadline day.
“I was sitting in the Southampton locker room with James Ward-Prowse, Theo Walcott and Willy Caballero. Experienced players who have seen a bit of life. I mentioned my transfer and they said Aston Villa is a great club,” adds Bednarek, who joined the Saints in a £5 million deal from Lech Poznan in 2017.
“I spoke to the agents and they (encouraged me to join) Aston Villa. My wife said that London is great, but the most important thing is that I should feel good.
“I remember in the locker room I said; ‘West Ham wants me, but David Moyes didn’t even call me.’ I swear I told it to the guys in the locker room and, a second later, a phone call from Lukasz Fabianski, who said; ‘The manager would like to talk to you.’
“I talked to Moyes and enjoyed their interest. But, at that moment, I felt that Aston Villa wanted me more.”
Bednarek already finds himself in a rather awkward position at Villa Park, however. The manager who brought him to the Midlands, Steven Gerrard, has now been replaced by Unai Emery, meaning Bednarek is back at square one as he looks to win over a new head coach.
He has, however, been included in Poland’s World Cup roster, alongside Villa team-mate Matty Cash. Leeds United’s Mateusz Klich, in contrast, missed out on the final 26.
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